FGM in the UK, illegal since 1985 but no prosecutions, how can we change this?

[OvaryAction]

I have just read this article stating that two people have been arrested for performing Female Genital Mutilation on a baby less than two months old.

The UK's efforts to end FGM are being seriously held back by a lack of national strategy or action plan. There are plenty of guidelines out there for teachers, midwives, social workers, police and so on, but they are not obligatory reading and many people in positions where they could identify victims and girls and women at risk are simply not aware of the problem or the role they could play in fixing it. this documentary explains this problem very well and the woman presenting it has created a petition asking the home office to act now and create an effective national action plan.

Please, please sign it and share it. FGM breaches numerous human rights including the right to no torture, inhuman or degrading treatment and causes lifelong physical and psychological trauma to it's survivors. In some cases FGM is fatal.

Yes, unfortunately once something has become a religious 'norm', it's incredibly difficult to persuade people to stop it. Such a shame.

Its another female issue tbh. Men want women to have no sexual pleasure, only pain and of course be under their control

Not always. I saw a documentary a few months ago. The father didn't want his girls cut but the mother insisted. He then asked the cutter to only take a small part. She and the mother held the two girls down and did the full FGM, and I'll never forget the fact that the mother laughed as she held her screaming daughter down. Don't make the mistake of thinking that the mothers are all victims who have no choice about doing this to their daughters.

Tbh I really don't care if they feel victimised because of their ethnicity or made to feel like 'monsters'. They should be under no illusions that the reason FGM is against the law in this country is because we find it abhorrent. If they could be trusted to obey the law then there would be no talk of checking girls for FGM. No more pussyfooting around, for the sake of all those poor little girls.

signed

bumping again, we still need another 18,000 signatures!!!

Signed.

I watched the documentary. Horrific practice. Absolutely barbaric. Those girls/women mentally and physically scarred for life just because their community deems it necessary.

signed and shared

Just tried to sign it, found I already had though...

Signed.

Thankyou for raising awareness. I have know about it for a long time and pleased to be able to help to eradicate as a barbaric practice.

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Signed and shared

Signed, utterly hideous, i agree, checking should be compulsary, i think the combination of culture (specifically the fear of being seen as racist) and the fact it is genitals so not just checking under their arm for instance, makes it a terribly sensitive subject. Lets face it, it's all very british stiff upper lip, we cant possibly ask to look at that little girls vagina, however something definitely needs to change, this is without doubt, one of the most upsetting things i have ever read about.

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You are 'more' concerned about MGM broken!?

Although I am completely against MGM, i do think that FGM can be more damaging, both physically and mentally.

I read one story where a girl had horrific lower abdomen pains - turns out that the opening to her vagina had been sewn completely shut. She had started menstruating, but the blood had no where to go so it had just collected inside her. Awful.

I've yet to hear such horrific stories from victims of MGM. Don't think that I am doubting the pain of MGM...I am not. I am saying that FGM often has far more pain associated with it. Also, it is done to prevent a woman straying from her husband. A boy is not circumcised to stop him cheating, it does not make him an object.

Then of course, there is the argument of age. Male circumcisions are normally done just after birth. Yes of course it does hurt, but I'm pretty sure that most people will agree that being age eight and held down by your own mother/aunty/older sister etc while a woman slices your vagina while you scream and imagine you are dying is a lot more traumatic.

another inspiring read for those of you who want to read more is desert flower by waris dirie
it also explains a bit how other (european) countries deal with this issue (she is in austria).

FGM is not an islamic practice, it's cultural. Its misogynistic. It's disgusting.

People who allow this to be done to their daughters do not deserve to be parents.

Signed. Can hardly bear to think about it.

Signed.